An Architecture for Mobile Instruction: Application to Mathematics Education through the Web

The rapid proliferation of wireless networks provides a ubiquitous channel for delivering instructional materials at the convenience of the user. By delivering content through portable devices linked to the Internet, the full spectrum of multimedia capabilities is available for engaging the user's interest. This capability encompasses not only text but images, video, speech generation and voice recognition. Moreover, the incorporation of machine learning capabilities at the source provides the ability to tailor the material to the general level of expertise of the user as well as the immediate needs of the moment: for instance, a request for information regarding a particular city might be covered by a leisurely presentation if solicited from the home, but more tersely if the user happens to be driving a car. This paper presents system architecture to support mobile instruction in conjunction with knowledge-based tutoring capabilities. For concreteress, the general concepts are examined in the context of a system for mathematics education on the Web.